On Election Day, Voters will be asked to vote YES or NO regarding 9 Amendments to the Charlestown Home Rule Charter
CCA urges a NO vote on questions 10, and 13
and a YES vote on questions 5-9 and 11-12
Below we have provided the questions with some explanations and discussion that may be different from what you will find on the ballot. There are four State questions, so our local questions begin with number "5". To learn more, there are useful links at the bottom of this page.
CHARTER REVISION QUESTIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER BALLOT
Question 5: “Shall the Charter be amended to incorporate editing and terminology changes that would bring continuity and clarity to the Town Charter?”
Explanation:This amendment will bring consistency to the use of the words in the Charter. No changes in meaning are involved.
Question 6: “Shall the Charter be amended to require the inclusion of an agenda item for public comment at all public meetings?”
Explanation: This amendment will require an agenda item for public comment at all regularly scheduled public meetings held by the Town Council, and all Commissions and Boards.
Question 7: “Shall the Charter be amended to include more specific language with regards to hiring the Town Administrator, Department Heads, and more specific duty requirements?”
Explanation: This amendment will include a procedure for hiring a Town Administrator and Department Heads. It also includes more specific duties for the Town Administrator and some Department Heads. Requires positions be advertised and that search committees are used.
Question 8: “Shall the Charter be amended to remove the Department of Public Health?”
Explanation:This amendment will remove the Department of Public Health as it is a non-functioning Department.
Question 9: “Shall the Charter be amended to provide in Article XXXVII the Wastewater Management Commission?”
Explanation:This amendment places the Wastewater Management Commission and Wastewater Management Specialist in the Charter. This Commission and position is currently established by ordinance.
Question 10: “Shall the Town Council be allowed to draw on the undesignated fund balance when there is a revenue shortfall in the voter approved budget?”
VOTE NO
Explanation: If a revenue shortfall from the voter approved revenue budget occurs, the Town Council would be allowed to draw funds from the Undesignated Fund Balance in order to bring the budget in balance with the voter approved expense budget. The Town needs to address revenue shortfalls with some spending constraints. There should have been a percentage cap placed on the amount that can be taken from the surplus. We can't support this without spending limits.
Question 11: “Shall the Charter be amended to require three (3) council members to vote in the affirmative to decide any issue, question, resolution and/or ordinance?”
Explanation:This amendment would require that three members of the Town Council would have to vote in the affirmative to decide any issue. This means that if only three members attend a meeting, two members can not make important changes on their own.
Question 12: “Shall the Charter be amended to alter the requirement amounts for competitive biding?”
Explanation:This amendment would alter the minimum requirement amounts for competitive binding to require three price quotes for purchases of at least three thousand dollars but not more than ten thousand dollars; and, seek competitive biding for purchase of ten thousand dollars or more. This adjusts a dollar amount in the charter to reflect 2010 value of dollar.
Question 13: “Shall the Charter be amended to allow appointed volunteer members of the town government to hold up to two (2) appointive volunteer positions in the town government?”
VOTE NO
Explanation:This amendment will allow volunteers to serve on more than one committee or commission. Presently appointed members are only allowed to serve on one board or commission. If volunteers were treated better we would not have vacancies on commissions. Allowing one person to serve on multiple commissions will reduce the diversity of opinions in Town Hall and give too much influence to one person.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Read the Questions as they will appear on ballot (page 3 on sample ballot)
Read the full language for the Charter Changes that will be voted on (please note, the question numbers are offset by 4, so what will be #5 on ballot is #1 in this document.)
The first link above will take you to the questions as they will appear on the November ballot. Take the time to look at this pdf file to become familiar with the ballot questions before you go into the voting booth. There are four State questions, so our local questions begin with number "5". If you want to know more about the questions, you can read the full text of the changes you will be voting on. This longer text will not be on the ballot. You'll have to scroll past the sample ballot to read the long explanations
On November 2nd, please join us in voting for these Charter changes